China Plans to Teach Chinese to 10,000 Students in Bangladesh
Several higher education institutions have already activated offering Chinese language courses, including the University of Dhaka, Rajshahi University, and North South University
ATT Desk Report 
Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Yao Wen has announced plans to train 10,000 Bangladeshi students in Chinese language and technical skills. His announced followed a meeting with Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and State Minister Bobby Hajjaj on February 24.
This move, according to a press release issued by the embassy, is expected to create employment opportunities in nearly 1,000 Chinese companies currently operating in Bangladesh in addition to giving similar scope in some 17 other countries worldwide, according to agency reports.
Several higher education institutions have already activated offering Chinese language courses, including the University of Dhaka, Rajshahi University, and North South University, through a collaborative effort involving the University Grants Commission and the Confucius Institutes. Plans are also underway to introduce Chinese language education at the University of Chittagong within this year.
Confucius Institutes, non-profit public educational institutions affiliated with China’s Ministry of Education, play a key role in this effort. Their primary mission is to promote Chinese language teaching globally and administer Chinese proficiency tests (HSK).
Currently, an estimated 555 Confucius Institutes operate across 154 countries and territorial regions throughout the globe.
To support language education, officials proposed establishing 300 smart classrooms initially, allocating two classrooms per school across 150 institutions. Discussions also covered nine broadcasting centres and modern laboratory software and hardware.
Similar language and technical education programs have been successfully implemented in South Africa, Cambodia and Laos, also reads the release.
Education Minister Milon expressed optimism that this cooperation would strengthen educational and technological ties while helping Bangladeshi youth acquire internationally competitive skills. “In line with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s education manifesto, Bangladesh’s education system will board on a new journey,” he stated.
